Police located many of them in Huai Kwang while some were found to have been staying in and around Soi Nana and Khaosarn Road. The offenders were from China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Nigeria.

In addition to working illegally, many of them were arrested for failing to notify the Thai authorities of their residence and disobeying the orders of the immigration officers. All of them will be deported.

Acting Immigration Police Bureau Chief, Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal said today he has also instructed immigration police to launch a crackdown on illegal migrants and Thai-nominee businesses across the country.

As for the recent transfer of two immigration police to the Royal Thai Police Bureau following their alleged involvement in helping certain foreign nationals to remain in the Kingdom, Pol Maj Gen Surachet said an investigation is now underway to establish whether they were really involved.

Pol Maj Gen Surachet also instructed a related agency to put up ‘No Tips’ signs at airports to inform tourists that they are being charged 2,000 baht for a temporary visa and no more.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakphan told reporters that the investigation into the alleged rape of a British tourist woman in Surat Thani’s Koh Tao island is expected to be finished next week.

An investigating police team traveled to the United Kingdom last month to interview the 19-year-old British woman who claimed to have been drugged, robbed and raped on the island in June.

The team is due to return to Thailand on Saturday with evidence provided by the British police, such as a sperm-stained shirt of the woman, he said.

He added that it will take a week after their return to conclude if the rape is proved to be real or not.

He said he has not received any report from the team whether the alleged victim has stood by her previous statements. Initial reports said the team received good cooperation from the alleged victim during the interview which involved both Thai and English interpreters as well as British officials.

He denied that the alleged rape victim had been blacklisted by Thai authorities from entering Thailand and vowed to bring justice to all sides.